We were talking about what kids say to make grown ups embarrassed and I remembered the time when my family and I went to visit a grandaunt (who is younger than my father, by the way, so we call her Aunt Helen) and her husband. My granduncle was some top guy running this swanky hotel in KL back then and had invited my parents for dinner at the hotel. We hardly meet this couple and this was the only time I remembered meeting them (they're now migrated to Canada).
I remembered having steamed fish since my dad always said it was an expensive dish whenever we ate out and we had a private dining room to ourselves. I can't remember much of the conversation because I guess I was too young to understand what they were talking about or didn't have a clue to whom they were talking about. But I've always had this awe for this high-flying aunt because of the little I know of her.
After dinner, we were invited to drop by their Penthouse (new word to my vocabulary then) but before that, we ladies made a pit stop to the loo. My youngest sister Jan was below six years old then and so my Mum brought her into the stall with her.
Now, I'm a self-conscious person and would pee really quietly so that, well, it's not so loud lah. Mum also was quiet in her stall but my Aunt Helen had no qualms about making enough noise to echo the four walls of the loo.
Suddenly, Jan said loudly, "Mummy, what is that SOUND?"
We all burst out laughing and Mum had to mumble some apology about kids saying the darnest things.
Jan swears she doesn't remember this incident at all. Oh, but I do, Jan, I do. All stored under "Stories to blackmail my sisters".
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Monday, September 12, 2005
Martin-Luthers
Martin-Luthers ("I had a dream..."): Clothes which you still keep in your closet in hope that you would be able to fit in them one day.
- Readers Digest September 05 Malaysian Edition
Of cakes, Cuban Dory and F1
I baked a butter cake for my Mum-in-law on Friday but the cake didn't turn out well. In fact, it didn't bake properly and not being experienced in this matter, we threw the whole cake away. Now everyone tells me I should have just chucked it back into the oven for a second round of baking.
Blarrggghh.... I just feel so embarrassed because it just shows how little I know about baking and here I am, trying to sell people my "experiments"! Hahaha!
Anyway, I had enough time on Saturday morning to bake another one which turned out okay. So all went well.
To celebrate Mum-in-law's birthday, we went to eat some Cuban food (yep, in Melaka!) and it was really nice. I ate up the salad in my starter! Everything including raw onions except the slice of lemon. Of course, the salad bit was the size of half my fist but STILL! An achievement for a meatatarian!
Anyways, the main course was a perfectly baked dory fillet (no, not the blue one. Nemo has forever spoilt how the actual fish looks like) which sliced easily into moistened flakes, topped with oozing cheese and sprinkled with fresh whole olives. It was really nice and the Pinot Grigio was really good too. My first time tasting Pinot Grigio by the way, very nice. I actually might prefer it to Chardonnay now. So saideth she who had one glass.
There was promise of a Cuban "performance" which in the end we figured as the old VCD they played on the TV so we left right after prolonging our dessert by going over to see how Cuban cigars were being rolled. Those things, it took the lady about 5 minutes to creat a RM45 stick. Wow, I'd like to be able to do that. But I could see the skill required to cut the tobacco leaves into the right shape, to roll it and know when this or that part isn't compact enough.
Then we went home and opened a bottle of pink champagne, specially brought in from Perth. Also very nice.
Oh, when my Mum-in-law expressed to Dad-in-law that she wanted to bring back two bottles of champagne when she was in Perth, he immediately discouraged her, saying that the bottles would be too heavy to bring back. Puzzled, she insisted that she would bring them back anyway so he asked her where she was going to find the space in her luggage to fit such a big bottle.
"But they're the same size as the normal wine bottles we usually bring back"
"NO! Champagne bottles are the really big ones! Don't you watch F1?"
Blarrggghh.... I just feel so embarrassed because it just shows how little I know about baking and here I am, trying to sell people my "experiments"! Hahaha!
Anyway, I had enough time on Saturday morning to bake another one which turned out okay. So all went well.
To celebrate Mum-in-law's birthday, we went to eat some Cuban food (yep, in Melaka!) and it was really nice. I ate up the salad in my starter! Everything including raw onions except the slice of lemon. Of course, the salad bit was the size of half my fist but STILL! An achievement for a meatatarian!
Anyways, the main course was a perfectly baked dory fillet (no, not the blue one. Nemo has forever spoilt how the actual fish looks like) which sliced easily into moistened flakes, topped with oozing cheese and sprinkled with fresh whole olives. It was really nice and the Pinot Grigio was really good too. My first time tasting Pinot Grigio by the way, very nice. I actually might prefer it to Chardonnay now. So saideth she who had one glass.
There was promise of a Cuban "performance" which in the end we figured as the old VCD they played on the TV so we left right after prolonging our dessert by going over to see how Cuban cigars were being rolled. Those things, it took the lady about 5 minutes to creat a RM45 stick. Wow, I'd like to be able to do that. But I could see the skill required to cut the tobacco leaves into the right shape, to roll it and know when this or that part isn't compact enough.
Then we went home and opened a bottle of pink champagne, specially brought in from Perth. Also very nice.
Oh, when my Mum-in-law expressed to Dad-in-law that she wanted to bring back two bottles of champagne when she was in Perth, he immediately discouraged her, saying that the bottles would be too heavy to bring back. Puzzled, she insisted that she would bring them back anyway so he asked her where she was going to find the space in her luggage to fit such a big bottle.
"But they're the same size as the normal wine bottles we usually bring back"
"NO! Champagne bottles are the really big ones! Don't you watch F1?"
Junk
How do you sell something that you have in stock of over 10K pieces, with prices most people wouldn't pay at and your bosses tell you that you can't reduce a single cent?
I wish I could burn those dang things once and for all so that the auditors won't have to ask year in, year out what I plan to do to reduce stocks in the Warehouse.
I wish I could burn those dang things once and for all so that the auditors won't have to ask year in, year out what I plan to do to reduce stocks in the Warehouse.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Uplift
Recently there have been many challenges for KS and I in terms of our Christian ministries. Leaders who were previously on fire for God now defeated into tough coals of stubbornness, broken relationships and folks who have been avoiding from coming to CG just to name a few.
But just in the last 2 hours, I am hearing good news again of prayers being answered for a couple of CG members. Opened doors of opportunities and broken bondages in a timely manner. And also a stray sheep is now wanting to come back to the herd, which answered MY own prayers.
What a way to start off the weekend!
But just in the last 2 hours, I am hearing good news again of prayers being answered for a couple of CG members. Opened doors of opportunities and broken bondages in a timely manner. And also a stray sheep is now wanting to come back to the herd, which answered MY own prayers.
What a way to start off the weekend!
D'uh!
You know those chain mails in your inbox? I hardly read them anymore but today I just opened one which said "Chinese Proverb". It talks about how money can buy you stuff like a bed but not sleep etc. Then, it goes on saying that I must send it to 20 people because of this person didn't send it and he had bad luck etc. Oh, it says it's a Chinese proverb that has started in Netherlands, gone around the world eight times and sent by a missionary in South Africa. Yeah, right.
Anyways, enough of the bull. I was just thinking about when I was in Form 1, I got one of them chain mails. I actually photocopied 20 copies and slipped them onto the parked cars windshields and put them into mailboxes as I was walking to my friend's house.
Hey, where's that fortune I was promised 16 years ago??
Anyways, enough of the bull. I was just thinking about when I was in Form 1, I got one of them chain mails. I actually photocopied 20 copies and slipped them onto the parked cars windshields and put them into mailboxes as I was walking to my friend's house.
Hey, where's that fortune I was promised 16 years ago??
No More Swearing
Speaking of swearing, the Malaysian courts are going to table this in the Parliament that those making statements need not swear in beforehand. This means that the burden of proof now solely rests on the evidence.
When I read my Perry Masons, he always relies on the witnesses/accused (you can tell I still know nuts about these court terms even after reading Perry Masons and John Grishams) to tell the truth since they are oath. Hence, that part was never quite believable or relevant in this day and age.
I always wondered who aethists would swear to and also doubt if criminals really fear God more than they fear going to jail!
So now, our local CSIs will have a lot more work and evidence to proof. Coming up - CSI:Klang Valley. By the way, one of my pastors work in the Malaysian Chemistry Dept (I am told it's related to CSI-like work) and he's unassuming and a really funny chap. I haven't had the chance to ask him anything CSI related yet.
When I read my Perry Masons, he always relies on the witnesses/accused (you can tell I still know nuts about these court terms even after reading Perry Masons and John Grishams) to tell the truth since they are oath. Hence, that part was never quite believable or relevant in this day and age.
I always wondered who aethists would swear to and also doubt if criminals really fear God more than they fear going to jail!
So now, our local CSIs will have a lot more work and evidence to proof. Coming up - CSI:Klang Valley. By the way, one of my pastors work in the Malaysian Chemistry Dept (I am told it's related to CSI-like work) and he's unassuming and a really funny chap. I haven't had the chance to ask him anything CSI related yet.
Swear Words
A couple of weeks ago, the radio station was asking listeners to share what alternate swear words they use and it got me thinking of mine too.
The most unusual one was one my friends and I coined in Form 4, during the History class. History, being one of my least favourite subjects, was always a dull period and we would often chat at the back of the class, much to the bane of my teacher! Anyways, she came to the subject of old cities and mentioned "Baluchistan" and because it sounded like a swear word to us, we pounced on it and gleefully peppered our conversations thereafter with it, stressing on the first two syllables.
I haven't used that word in ages but it still makes me smile to remember those good ol' days. I'm sure my history teacher won't share such fond memories though.
The most unusual one was one my friends and I coined in Form 4, during the History class. History, being one of my least favourite subjects, was always a dull period and we would often chat at the back of the class, much to the bane of my teacher! Anyways, she came to the subject of old cities and mentioned "Baluchistan" and because it sounded like a swear word to us, we pounced on it and gleefully peppered our conversations thereafter with it, stressing on the first two syllables.
I haven't used that word in ages but it still makes me smile to remember those good ol' days. I'm sure my history teacher won't share such fond memories though.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
I want the snow off Everest
Real scenario:
Candidate: I want my job to pay at least RM2800, have a company car and lots of travelling. Not local ah, I want international travelling plus holiday.
Interviewer: Er... you've never worked before, have you?
Candidate: No.
Interviewer: And why is it that you think you would be able to get all these?
Candidate: Because I'm a graduate mah.
Interviewer: Which uni?
Candidate: UPM
Folks at UPM, who on earth is advising you guys to ask for the moon?
Candidate: I want my job to pay at least RM2800, have a company car and lots of travelling. Not local ah, I want international travelling plus holiday.
Interviewer: Er... you've never worked before, have you?
Candidate: No.
Interviewer: And why is it that you think you would be able to get all these?
Candidate: Because I'm a graduate mah.
Interviewer: Which uni?
Candidate: UPM
Folks at UPM, who on earth is advising you guys to ask for the moon?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Faith Stretching
Soon, my church will be shifting to a new place because of the sheer size of its growing congregation. From a single celebration on Sundays, it has multiplied to four, two on Saturdays and two on Sundays. Hence, pastors would have to give their sermons four times per weekend, which is quite taxing for anyone, let alone a visiting pastor! Plus, our ministries are growing and there is a evident lack of space for them.
So now we are going to shift and the deed is already signed for the piece of property nearby from where we currently are. A church building fund has been set up and normally, churches would look for help from both internal and external sources. For us, we are going to only look internally ie from the church members. And the amount is not small.
It's scary to ask for such an amount and those who do not share the same vision as what this new place can and will be, will only have doubts and may in fact leave the church. But this is what I believe is a process of refining fire. I've heard of people in the church who say, "I think my calling is to earn a lot of money so that I can GIVE!" and I sincerely hope that they will step up to their calling for this one. If the amount is divided equally amongst the numbers who attend the celebrations, it is still a very large amount, one which when pooled together all our resources, KS and I still won't be able to achieve the amount for one person. What a hopeless feeling!
Hence, our faiths will be really stretched for this one. But I really do believe that if you honour Him, you will be honoured in return, sometimes monetarily, sometimes in other means of blessings. Not to say that I should expect something in return but it's happened a couple of times when that step of faith is taken. This, I will share with you some other day when things come to pass.
However said, yes, I believe it but the acting out in faith is another struggle for me. It is always a case of, "What if I don't have enough for myself? When can I get that pair of shoes then? What if an emergency happens?"... a lot of "What ifs" which will never be quenched. This is why it's called walking out in faith.
So now we are going to shift and the deed is already signed for the piece of property nearby from where we currently are. A church building fund has been set up and normally, churches would look for help from both internal and external sources. For us, we are going to only look internally ie from the church members. And the amount is not small.
It's scary to ask for such an amount and those who do not share the same vision as what this new place can and will be, will only have doubts and may in fact leave the church. But this is what I believe is a process of refining fire. I've heard of people in the church who say, "I think my calling is to earn a lot of money so that I can GIVE!" and I sincerely hope that they will step up to their calling for this one. If the amount is divided equally amongst the numbers who attend the celebrations, it is still a very large amount, one which when pooled together all our resources, KS and I still won't be able to achieve the amount for one person. What a hopeless feeling!
Hence, our faiths will be really stretched for this one. But I really do believe that if you honour Him, you will be honoured in return, sometimes monetarily, sometimes in other means of blessings. Not to say that I should expect something in return but it's happened a couple of times when that step of faith is taken. This, I will share with you some other day when things come to pass.
However said, yes, I believe it but the acting out in faith is another struggle for me. It is always a case of, "What if I don't have enough for myself? When can I get that pair of shoes then? What if an emergency happens?"... a lot of "What ifs" which will never be quenched. This is why it's called walking out in faith.
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